Welcoming the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) back into its fold after a gap of two years, the DMK promised a Rajya Sabha seat to the PMK after the 2011 Assembly elections to facilitate the re-nomination of former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss.
The decision came at a high-level implementation committee meeting of the DMK on Sunday. The DMK announced that it would nominate T.M. Selvaganapathy, a former AIADMK minister who recently defected to the DMK, K.P. Ramalingam, the DMK's agriculture wing secretary and S. Thangavel, a minister in the DMK cabinet between 1989 and 1991 to the Rajya Sabha. The Congress, the ally of the DMK, will nominate its candidate for one seat. Given their presence strength in the Assembly, they can win four seats.
“The DMK and the PMK will renew their relationship and face the coming elections to the Legislative Council and also the 2011 Assembly elections together,” a resolution adopted at the meeting said.
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Hoping that the PMK would accept its decision, the DMK called upon the PMK to start working closely with it in the interest of social justice for the Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss had written two letters to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on April 26 and May 14, seeking a Rajya Sabha seat, while promising to be part of the DMK alliance in the next Assembly polls.
“The committee discussed Dr Ramadoss' letters in detail and his strong remarks during the campaign for the Pennagaram by-election that the DMK was his first enemy. But it decided to “let bygones be bygones,” the resolution said.
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Later, asked by reporters whether it was a strategic move to readmit the PMK, Mr. Karunanidhi said the decision had been taken in “good faith.”
He refused to answer a question whether it was a move to test the loyalty of the PMK, saying he did not wish to indulge in speculation. The high-level committee of the PMK will meet on Monday to discuss the matter.